Daily Devotional Meditations and a Biblical Perspective on Current Events

A Cauldron of Carnality

There is an oft-used story of a frog that was placed in a shallow pan of cool water out of which he could have easily jumped. The pan was placed on a stove and the temperature of the water gradually increased, all the while the frog contented himself with floating in the water—oblivious to the rising temperature…until he was boiled to death. The frog could have jumped out of the pan, but the rise in temperature was so gradual that he did not notice the danger until it was too late.

I see that same thing happening in Christian homes, Bible-preaching churches, schools, and colleges. Christians have been comfortable in America’s pan of water and lulled into a sense of security, failing to recognize the water of secular humanism is coming to a boil and its prodigious effect influencing our families, churches, and institutions.

Christians should have jumped out of the pan of water when the world began producing the fruit of carnality in our lives, homes, and families. Instead, we became enamored with the world; and our homes, churches, and institutions have become cauldrons of sin and worldliness.

Some are defending compromises in music, dress, and lifestyle by piously suggesting the essential focus of Christianity is the Gospel and we should not be divided over concerns they relegate to preferences.

A Christian not only bears a responsibility to share the gospel, he must also be dedicated to glorifying Christ with a life that is pure and holy. Sadly, the gospel of pragmatism, at the sacrifice of Bible principles, is desensitizing Christians to the world, its pleasures and allure (1 John 2:15-17).

The apostle Paul, writing to Christians living in the midst of a society given over to sin and hedonism, wrote: “I beseech[urge] you therefore, brethren, by [in light of] the mercies of God, that ye present [dedicate] your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God [surrendering all your hopes, plans and aspirations], which is your reasonable service [unto God]. 2 And be not conformed [patterned] to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind [saturated and controlled by the Word of God], that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

It is time for Christians to heed the mandate of a life that is holy and acceptable to God and get out of churches and institutions that make allowances for a pan full of carnality under the guise of spiritual piety, all the while sacrificing godliness, sanctification, and holiness.

We need to heed Peter’s challenge to first century Christians:

“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1 Peter 1:15)